A Matrix Metalloproteinase Sensing Biosensor for the Evaluation of Chronic Wounds

The increasing prevalence of the elderly in global society is being accompanied by rapidly increasing numbers of patients with cerebrovascular disease or diabetes, and patients with chronic wounds, including complications of ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers. Many studies have sought to develop wound sensors based on various targets. However, there is no proper device for in situ detection that uses an objective quantitative index to indicate the degree of severity of a wound lesion and determines the necessity for surgical treatment. In particular, when the patient is not an inpatient, delayed surgical treatment often results in worsening of wounds. Patients or self-governing bodies need information that permits objective judgments about the need for surgical first aid. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 are valuable as markers because they are over-expressed when wounds are exacerbated. In this paper, we have developed a technique for immobilizing a fluorescence resonance energy transfer peptide on hydrogel support to recognize these markers. When the fluorescent peptide that is cleaved by a specific protease is immobilized, the amount of the protease can be measured by the increase in fluorescence of the hydrogel. This hydrogel-based biosensor, which can detect key proteases in chronic wounds, could be an important means for improving wound care.